Bobbin winder for sewing machines



Dec 10, 1946- vs..1.|iA|\f1L.|ar-r, JR

BOBBIN WINDER FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April l0, 1944 INV-ENTOK 5m/YE Y JHAML .ern/fe.

Arme/YE Ys Dec. 10, 1946. S HAMLETT, JR 2,412,456

BOBBIN WINDER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 1o, 1944 s sheets-sheet 2 BY y.

,4r-Mews Ys as is well understood in the art. The sewing mechanism per se forms no part of the present invention and may be of any conventional construction. Suice it to say that the conventional sewing mechanism shown includes a main or needle bar shaft rotatably supported in the upper horizontal portion of the gooseneck B, and a main connecting assembly and a feed actuating mechanism for operatively connecting the main shaft with the sewing mechanism located underneath the bed plate A.

In the embodiment shown, the sewing mechanism is actuated by an electric driving motor I3 mounted on .the underside of the bedplate A and operatively connected to the main shaft I by means including a V-belt drive, designated generally by the reference character C. The particular drive employed forms no part of the present invention but is preferably that disclosed and claimed in my aforesaid application. The driving motor I3, as shown, is operatively connected by a flexible shaft I4 of commercial construction, to a shaft I5 rotatably supported in a bracket I5 projecting from the underside of the bedplate A. The driving pulley I1 of the V-belt drive C is keyed or otherwise suitably xed to the shaft I5, the projecting right hand end of which is provided with a friction wheel I8.

Generally speaking, the bobbin winding mechanism of the present invention comprises a bobbin Winder assembly enclosed or adapted to be enclosed within a sewing machine .and including two members having limited relative movement with respect to each other pivotally connected or adapted to be pivotally connected to a stationary part of the sewing machine in such a manner that a driven element connected to .a bobbin carrying spindle may be moved into and out of driven engagement with a movable element of the sewing machine, in combination with resilient means for continuously urging the driven element carrying member of the bobbin Winder assembly with respect to the other of the first named members in a direction to engage the driven element With its driving element and resilient means controlled by the amount of thread on the bobbin being Wound for moving the driven element out of contact with its driving element.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the bobbin Winder assembly is designated generally by the reference character D and comprises the two relatively movable members 2B and 2| pivotally connected viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with a driven friction wheel 24 adapted to engage the driving friction wheel I8 previously referred to. The opposite or front end of the shaft 23 is hollow and split longitudinally vto form a resilient spindle adapted to receive a bobbin F. Both of the members 20 and 2| are irregular in shape and the member 20 is provided with approximately a right angle bend intermediate the ends thereof, the construction being such that as the Winder assembly is rotated about Ithe screw 22 as a pivot, the free end thereof and, in turn, the spindle 23 upon which the bobbin to be wound is mounted is moved into and out of an aperture 23, in the bedplate A, which aperture is adapted .to be normally closed by a cover or door 21 hinged as by the arms 33, 3| and a pintle pin 32 to the bracket E. A spring 33 encircling the pintle pin 32 moves the cover or door 21 to open position and holds the same open. Any suitable means may be ernlployed for normally holding the cover or door 21 in position to close the aperture 26. The bracket E comprises two downwardly extending flanges 34, 35 and the pintle pin 32 is fixed in suitably aligned apertures therein. The screw 22, previously referred to, is fixed to the smaller rear flange 35.

The bobbin Winder assembly D is continuously urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a coil spring 35, surrounding the hub 31 of the member 20, opposite ends 40 and 4I of which spring engage the underside of the bracket E and a horizontally extending projection 42 on the member 2 I. The member 20 is continuously urged in a clockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 2, with respect to the member 2l by a coil spring 43, opposite ends 44 and 45 of Which spring engage the members 20 and 2l respectively. However, relative movement between ythe members 20 and 2| in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, under the action of the spring 43 is limited by the horizontal projection 42 previously referred to. In the embodiment shown, relative movement between .the members 20 and 2I in the opposite direction, that is, counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, is limited by an irregularly-shaped arm or member 46 formed integral with the right hand end of the member 2l. The arm 46 projects to the right above the end of .the member Z0. The members 20 and 2| are so constructed as to permit a limited movement of the member 20 relative to the member 2l between the stops 42 and 46. The highest part of the arm 46 forms an abutment for the bobbin Winder assembly D when the aperture 26 is closed by the cover 21, as will be hereinafter more specifically described.

While a bobbin is being wound the bobbin Winder assembly D is held in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the driven friction Wheel 24 in engagement with the driving member or wheel I8, by a latch designated generally by .the reference character G, which latch is pivotally connected to the flange 34 by a screw 41 and comprises a projection 48 adapted to engage over a pin 50 formed integral with the member 2| of the bobbin Winder assembly D. The latch G is continuously urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to engage the projection 48 over the pin 50, by a tension spring 5I connected to an arm 52 thereof and to a pin 53 projecting inwardly from the flange 34. In addition to the parts previously mentioned, the latch G comprises an elongated arm 54 the intermediate portion of which extends between the anges of the bobbin F and is adapted to be moved radially of the bobbin by thread wound thereon.

The construction is such that the latch G is so moved by the engagement of the elongated arm 54 with the thread being wound on the bobbin that the projection 48 is disengaged from the pin 5D, and the Winder assembly D thereby released when a predetermined amount of thread has been wound upon the bobbin. Upon being released from the latch G, the Winder assembly D moves into the dot-dash line position shown in Fig. 2 under the action of the spring 35. Movement of the Winder assembly D under the action of the spring 36 is limited by the engagement of a projection 55 on the member 2l with the underside of the bed plate A. Alternately, the projection 55 may engage the bracket E.

Because of the lost motion connection, including the spring 43, between the members 2] and 2| of the bobbin Winder assembly D, the friction wheel 24 is yieldably engaged with the driving member I8 when the Winder assembly is latched in the positionY shown in Fig, 2. Attention is called to the fact that the springs 35 and 43 both encircle the pivot upon which the members 26 and 2| are rotatably suppo-rted. This arrangement provides a simple and compact construction,

When the device is not in use, it is housed underneath the bed plate A and in order to eliminate any possibility of the friction wheels I8 and 24 being in contact with each other when the cover 21 is closed, the projecting end 55 of the elongated arm 54 of the latch G is adapted to be depressed suiiiciently tc hold the projection 48 of the latch G clear of the pin 50 upon the closing of the cover 21 by a rod 51 slidably supported in vertically spaced projections 60 and 6| formed integral with the iiange 34. The lower end of the rod 51 is adapted to engage the upper surface of the end of the arm 54 and the upper end thereof is provided with a head 62 adapted to be engaged by the under side of a cover 21 as the cover is moved into closed position. The rod 51 is continuously urged in an upward direction by a coil spring 63 surrounding the same and interposed between the upper side of the projection 6I and a collar 64 fixed to the rod 51 below the projection 59. When the cover 21 is closed the rod 51 is depressed and the latch G held in inoperative position, as previously stated. At this time the highest portion of the arm 46 engagesthe underside of the cover 21 and the various parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. A projecting member 65 on the underside of the cover 21 and provided with an aperture 56 forms a guide for thread being wound upon the bobbin.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description thereof, Sufce it to say that when the .cover 21 is released it moves into open position, that is, into the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the Winder assembly D moves to loading position which is the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2. It will be observed that the bobbin receiving spindle of the bobbin Winder assembly is above the bed plate A and without the housing of the sewing machine proper; in other Words,

the spindle is so positioned that a bobbin can be readily attached to or detached from the bobbin carrying portion 25 of the spindle 23. After the bobbin has been positioned upon the end 25 of the spindle 23, the assembly is manually moved in a clockwise direction about the pivot 22 until the projection 48 of the latch G engages over the pin 5H on the member 2 I. This movement of the bobbin Winder assembly D moves the friction wheel 24 into engagement with the driving membei` I8. The motor I5, if not already in opern ation, is then started.

When a predetermined amount of thread has been Wound on the bobbin Fthe pin 59 is automatically released from the latch G, whereupon the bobbin Winder assembly D Will move to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig 2 under the action of the spring 36. The Wound bobbin is then removed, whereupon the cover or door 21 can :be closed. |As the door 21 closes, the bobbin Winder assembly D is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1. If for some reason the bobbin Winder assembly D happens to be in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, When the door 21 is closed, the engagement of the head V|52 of the pin 51 therewith Will move the latch G to releaseV 2to the member |2I.

the Winder assembly D, whereupon the Winder assembly will move in a counterclockwise direction until the arm 4c strikes the underside of the cover 21.

The bobbin Winder of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, as located underneath the bed plate of a sewing machine, however, it is to be understood that the bobbin Winder of the present invention may be located at other convenient places about the machine, for example, in either the column or the horizontal arm of the gooseneck.

An embodiment of the invention showing the bobbin Winder in the horizontal arm or portion of the goose neck of a sewing machine is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 1. Referring to these figures, the bobbin Winder proper is located Within an aperture formed in the top of the gooseneck B; which aperture is adapted to be closed by a door or cover 18 hinged at its rear to the frame proper. In this embodiment the bob'bin Winder assembly D', comprising the relatively movable co-axially pivoted arms or members |20 and |2|, is pivotally connected by a screw I 22 to a bracket E' fixed to a web 1I formed integral with the gooseneck B of a sewing machine head in such a way that the driven friction wheel |24 fixed to the bobbin carrying spindle |23 rotatably supported in the free end of the member |20 is adapted to be engage-d with and disengaged from a driving friction wheel ||8 carried by the main shaft llil' of the sewing machine. Alternatively, the friction wheel |24 may contact some other rotatable part of the sewing machine.

'I'he bobbin Winder assembly D is continuously urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 to project the bobbin carrying spindle |23 thereof above the arm B by a coil spring |36 encircling the hub of the member Hill, opposite ends |40, |4| of which spring are connected to the bracket E and the member |2|, respectively. Movement of the member |20 relative to the member |2| is limited by iianges |42, |46, formed integral With the member 12| and projecting below and above the arm or member |29. The space between the projections |42, |46, is slightly greater than the height of the arm |29, permitting a slight relative movement between the members |28 and |2|. The member |20 is continuously urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '1 with respect to the member |2| by a coil spring |43 also surrounding the hub of the member |20, opposite ends |44, |45 of which are connected to the member IZB and the underside of the member I2I, respectively. The screw |22 which forms the pivot for the bobbin Winder assembly D' is iixed in a flange |35 formed integral with the bracket E. The flange |35 also includes an inwardly extending projection 12 adapted to be engaged by the arm |20 to limit the rotation of the assembly D in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6.

For the purpose of winding a bobbin, the Winder assembly D is held in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, With the driven friction wheel |24 in engagement with the driving wheel I 8 by a latch Gr', similar in construction to the'latch G previously referred to, and comprising a projection |48 adapted to engage over a pin I 50 Xed The latch G is pivotally connected to an upstanding ange |34 on the bracket E by a headed pin |41 and is continuously urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 by a vertically positioned tension spring |5| connected to an arm |52 thereof and 7 to the bracket E. The latch G' is also provided with a forwardly extending arm |54 adapted to extend between the flanges of a bobbin F positioned on the bobbin receiving end |25 of the spindle |23 and engage thread wrappedupon the bobbin and be moved thereby.

'The thread guide 'I3 xed to the underside of the cover l serves the same function as the rod in the embodiment shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, and is so constructed that when the cover 'l0 is closed, the lower end thereof engages the projecting arm |54 of the latch G and holds the latter in an inoperative position, thus eliminating any possibility of the friction Wheels ||8 and |24 being in contact When the cover-is closed. The friction Wheels H8 and |24 are small metal hubs provided with rubber tires, whereas the friction wheels shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, are coneshaped or beveled wheels, however, it

is to be understood that any suitable type of friction Wheell may be employed.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 is as follows: When it is desired to wind a bobbin the cover 'IU is raised to the position shown in Fig. 7. Prior to the raising of the cover ld, the bobbin Winder assembly D is in the lower dot-dash line position shown in Fig. '7, With the top of the wheel |26 engaging the underside of the cover '15. When the cover 'i6 is raised, the assembly moves to the upper dotdash line position shown in Fig. 7 under the action of the spring |35. While the assembly is in its raised or upper position, the bobbin to be wound is placed on the bobbin-receiving portion |25 of the spindle |23. After the end of the thread is secured to the bobbin, the bobbin Winder assembly D is manually moved in a downward direction until the pin |59 is engaged by the latch G', which is the position shown in Fig. '7, with the friction wheels H3, |24 in contact with each other. When the bobbin is placed on the spindle |23, the projecting arm |54 of the latch G is positioned between the flanges thereof and after a predetermined amount of thread is wound upon the bobbin, the latch G is moved clear of the pin |50, whereupon the bobbin Winder assembly automatically moves to the upper dotdash line position shown in Fig. '7. After the bobbin is removed, the cover 'l0 is again closed.

From the foregoing disclosure of the invention and the description of the preferred embodiments shown, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that a new and improved bobbin Winder for sewing machines has been provided as Well as a new and improved sewing machine.

Two preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described with considv erable detail, however, the invention may be other- Wise embodied and numerous changes may be made in the construction shown within the scope of the invention, and it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular embodiments or constructions shown, but it is my intension to hereby cover all adaptations, modifications and uses of the devices shown which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim: 1. In a sewing machine, the combination of: a bed plate having an aperture therein, sewing mechanism including a movable element located underneath said bed plate; a bobbin Winder assembly comprising a movable member, a shaft 8 adapted to have a bobbin detachably secured thereto, means for rotatably supporting said shaft in said movable member, and a driven element xed to said shaft and adapted to be moved into and out of driven engagement with said movable element; means for movably supporting said bobbin Winder assembly underneath said bed plate for movement of said shaft to a position beneath the bed plate with said driven element in operative engagement with said movable element or outwardly through said aperture to a position above said bed plate where itis accessible to have a bobbin removed therefrom or placed thereon; and a movable cover for said aperture which when in closed position maintains said shaft below said bed plate.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination of a bed plate having an aperture therein; sewing mechanism including a movable element located underneath said bed plate, a bobbin Winder assembly comprising a movable member, a shaft adapted to have a bobbin detachably secured thereto, means for rotatably supporting said shaft in said movable member, and a driven element fixed to said shaft and adapted to be moved into and out of driven engagement with said movable element; means for pivotally supporting said bobbin Winder assembly underneath said bed plate for movement of said shaft to a position beneath the bed plate With said driven element in operative engagement with said movable element or outwardly through said aperture to a position above said bed plate where it is accessible to have a bobbin removed therefrom or placed thereon; and a movable cover for said aperture which when in closed position maintains said shaft below said bed plate.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination of: a bed plate having an aperture therein, sewing mechanism including a rotatable element located underneath said bed plate; a bobbin Winder assembly comprising a movable member, a shaft adapted to have a bobbin detachably secured thereto, means for rotatably supporting said shaft in said movable member, and a driven element xed to said shaft and adapted to be moved into and out of driven engagement With said rotatable element; means for pivotally supporting said bobbin Winder assembly underneath said bed plate for movement about a horizontal axis whereby said shaft may be moved to a position beneath the bed plate with said driven element in operative engagement with said rotatable elementor outwardly through said aperture to a position above said bed plate Where it is accessible to have a bobbin removed therefrom or placed thereon; and a movable cover for said aperture which when in closed position maintains said shaft below said bed plate.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination of: a bed plate having an aperture therein; a movable cover for said aperture; sewing mechanism including a movable element located underneath said bed plate; a bobbin Winder assembly comprising two relatively movable members, a shaft adapted to have a bobbin detachably secured thereto, means for rotatably supporting said shaft in one of said members, a driven element fixed to said shaft and adapted to be moved into and out of driven engagement with said movable element, and means including a lost motion operative connection between said members; means for pivotally supporting said bobbin Winder assembly underneath said bed plate; resilient means continuously urging said bobbin Winder assembly in a direction to move said shaft outwardly through said aperture and said driven element away from said movable element; said cover when in closed position maintaining said assembly beneath said bed plate, said bobbin Winder assembly comprising resilient means interposed between said members for yieldably urging said driven element in a direction towards said movable element; movable means mounted independently of said members for holding said bobbin Winder assembly against the action of said first named resilient means in a position in which said driven element engages and is driven by said movable element; and means controlled by the amount of thread on a bobbin supported on said shaft for moving said movable means to release said bobbin winder assembly to move said shaft when said cover is in open position outwardly of said aperture to a position accessible for removing the wound bobbin therefrom and placing an empty bobbin thereon.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination of a bed plate having an aperture therein; a movable cover for said aperture; sewing mechanism including a rotatable element located underneath said bed plate; a bobbin Winder assembly comprising two relatively rookable members, a shaft adapted to have a bobbin detachably secured thereto, means for rotatably supporting said shaft in one of said members, a driven element fixed to said shaft and adapted to be moved into and out of driven engagement with said rotatable element, and means comprising a lost motion operative connection between said members and including resilient means interposed between said members for yieldably urging said driven element in a direction towards said rotatable element of said sewing mechanism; means for pivotally supporting said bobbin Winder assembly underneath said bed plate; resilient means for continuously urging said bobbin Winder assembly in a direction to move said shaft outwardly through said aperture and said driven element away from said rotatable element; movable means for holding said bobbin Winder assembly against the action of said last named resilient means in a position in which said driven element engages said rotatable element of said sewing mechanism; means controlled by the amount of thread on a bobbin supported on said shaft for moving said movable means te release said bobbin Winder assembly; and 4means operatively connected to said cover for actuating said movable means in a direction to release said bobbin Winder assembly when said cover is moved to close said aperture.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination of: a bed plate having an aperture therein; a movable cover for said aperture; sewing mechanism including a movable element located underneath said bed plate; a bobbin Winder assembly comprising two relatively rockable members; a shaft adapted to have a bobbin detachablyl secured thereto, means for rotatably supporting said shaft in one or" said members, a driven element xed to said shaft and adapted to be moved into and out of driven engagement with said movable element, and means comprising a lost motion operative connection between said members and including resilient means urging said driven element in a direction towards said movable element of said sewing mechanism; means for pivotally supporting said bobbin Winder assembly underneath said bed plate; resilient means continuously urging said bobbin Winder assembly in a direction to move said shaft outwardly through said aperture and said driven element away from said movable element; movable means for holding said bobbin Winder assembly against the action of said second named resilient means in a position in which said driven element engages and is driven by said movable element; means controlled by the amount of thread on a bobbin supported on said shaft for moving said movable means to release said bobbin Winder assembly; and means operatively connected to said cover for moving said movable means to releasing position when said cover is moved to close said aperture. v

7. In a sewing machine, in combination, a frame member having an aperture therein, a movable cover for closing said aperture, sewing mechanism including a moving driving part located within said frame member; a bobbin Winding device comprising a pair of members, means secured to said frame member for coaxially supporting said pair of members for rocking movement from one side of said aperture to the other side thereof, means forming a lost motion operative connection between said rocking members, a shaft rotatably supported by one of said rocking members and adapted to have a bobbin detachably secured thereto, a driven element fixed to said shaft and engageable with said driving part, resilient means yieldingly urging said one rockable member in a direction to engage said element with said driving part, a separate resilient means urging the other of said rocking members in a direction to disengage said element from said movable part and to move said rocking members in one direction through said aperture, latch means for holding said other rockable member against movement by said separate resilient means, and means controlled by the amount of thread on the bobbin Ifor releasing said latch means; and cooperating means operatively associating said cover and said latch releasing means when the cover is in aperture closing position to maintain said releasing means in latch released position.

8. In a sewing machine, in combination, a gooseneck having an aperture in the horizontal arm thereof and a cavity underlying said aperture, a movable cover for closing said aperture, sewing mechanism including a moving driving part located within said horizontal arm; a bobbin winding device comprising a pair of members, means secured to said horizontal arm in the cavity thereof and coaxially supporting said members for rocking movement, means forming a lost motion operative connection between said rocking members, a shaft rotatably supported by one of said rocking members and adapted to have a bobbin detachably secured thereto, a driven element fixed to said shaft and adapted to engage and be driven by said movable part, resilient means yieldingly urging said one member in a direction to engage said element With said movable part, a separate resilient means urging the other of said rocking members in a direction to disengage said element from said movable part and move both of said members through said aperture, latch means for holding said members against movement by said resilient means, and means controlled by the amount of thread 0n the bobbin for releasing said latch means; said cover being provided with a depending portion cooperating with said latch releasing means when the cover is in aperture closing position to maintain said releasing means in latch released position.

SIDNEY J. HAMLE'IT, JR. 

